Minister Strahl Announces New School for Morley Community of the Alberta Stoney Tribe

CALGARY, ALBERTA, Jul 12 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Government of Canada is helping to build a new school that will
benefit the Morley Community, part of the Stoney Tribe.

The Morley school is one of eight new schools or school renovation
projects funded through the $33-billion Building Canada Plan. These
projects will be announced in coming weeks and are in addition to 10 new
schools and three major school renovation projects already announced this
year under Canada's Economic Action Plan
(http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/home-accueil-eng.asp).

"We are committed to investing in projects like this new school, which
will provide lasting, sustainable benefits for First Nation communities,"
said Minister Strahl. "Providing access to quality First Nations schools
that meet the educational needs of this growing community will ensure
Stoney Tribe students can acquire skills in their own community that they
will need to succeed."

Funding from the Government of Canada will support the new Morley
elementary school, which is projecting enrolment of 500 First Nation
students. The school will benefit current elementary school students and
provide needed capacity and facilities for the future. High school
students will use the existing community school, which will also be
renovated as part of the project.

"Our lobbying for the school was truly a labour of love," said the three
Stoney Nation Chiefs: Chief David Bearspaw, Chief Bruce Labelle and Chief
Clifford Poucette. "We listened to our membership and made it the
number-one priority to serve our people. We love our children and they
deserve the same benefits as any other children in Canada. We are
extremely pleased that today's announcement signifies that, in
partnership, the three Stoney First Nations and Canada can do great
things."

"A new school at Morley was much needed and as the local Member of
Parliament I'm proud to say that today our government is delivering once
again," said Blake Richards, the Member of Parliament for Wild Rose,
which includes the Stoney reserve.

In Budget 2007, the Government of Canada took steps to augment
infrastructure programming across Canada through the creation of the
$33-billion Building Canada Plan, including an $8-billion extension to
the Gas Tax Fund (GTF). An extension to the GTF this year allocates
approximately $102 million over a three-year period, beginning in
2009-2010 and ending in 2011-2012 for education facilities in First
Nations communities.

Project costs will be identified following the competitive tendering
process.

This news release and backgrounders are also available on the Internet
at:

www.ainc-inac.gc.ca

Contacts:
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Minister's Office
Nina Chiarelli
Press Secretary
819-997-0002

INAC Media Relations
819-953-1160

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